Archive for the ‘Communism’ Category
Saturday, February 22nd, 2014
First word came that Yanukovich had left Ukraine for various rumored destinations from Russia to Dubai. Then came word that Yanukovich was denied exit from the country.
But the delight of the day was ordinary Ukrainians touring the abandoned Presidential vacation palace, which such amenities as:
A classic car collection
A private zoo
A gold toilet
An actual galleon (helpfully named GALLEON; this pretty much confirms what we suspected of the vast range of Mr. Yanukovich’s imagination…) floating on an artificial lake.
Some Tweets on the theme:
Also, Russia has a sad.
Tags:Communism, Crime, EuroMaidan, Foreign Policy, fraud, Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko
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Friday, February 21st, 2014
Yanukovych’s “compromise” looks more and more like a complete rout, with reports of him fleeing Kiev for his political base in Kharkiv, where reports have security forces burning documents:
There are dark, unconfirmed mutterings of pro-Russian forces preparing “provocations” or for a partition of Ukraine. But even in Kharkiv, Euromaidan is marching.
Tweets:
And via Michelle Malkin’s twitter feed, here’s video of happy Ukrainians toppling statues of Lenin:
Tags:EuroMaidan, Kharkiv, Kiev, Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych
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Friday, February 21st, 2014
A small update on easing Ukrainian tensions. Lots of details remain to be worked out, and a lot of Euromaidan members aren’t happy with Yanukovych staying through December. But it’s sounding like they were made an offer they couldn’t refuse…
Polish minister to Euromaidan: “Take the deal or you’ll all be dead.”
Ukraine Parliament moves to release opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
Inside Kiev’s makeshift hospital/morgue.
Problems with Ukraine’s economy, and the Russian loan that helped kick off the crisis.
This warms my heart:
There are calls for Ukraine’s Parliament to impeach Yanukovych. I can hardly imagine Yanukovych or Putin taking that lying down…
Tags:Communism, EuroMaidan, Foreign Policy, Kiev, Russia, Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko
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Friday, February 21st, 2014
Early reports indicates that Yanukovych may finally have gotten a clue:
Viktor Yanukovych conceded to the major demands made by protesters, he announced Friday on his website. He had been holding out against their raging street demonstrations for months.
Yanukovych said he has initiated new presidential elections and a return to the old constitution that would cut presidential power, and also form a national unity Cabinet.
Now word is comning down that Euromaidan leadership has signed off on the agreement.
Great news, if it holds.
There are also unconfirmed reports of police either leaving or coming over to Euromaidan. Presumably these are the regular police and not the Berkut riot police.
Now the question becomes: What will Yanukovych’s puppet-master Vladamir Putin do? He met with his security council, and the discussion sounds more than a little ominous:
“Putin emphasized that it is imperative to immediately stop the bloodshed and take urgent measures to stabilize the situation and suppress any extremist and terrorist sorties.”
Is Putin willing to go to war to keep Ukraine is Moscow’s orbit?
Stay tuned…
Tweets
Tags:Communism, EuroMaidan, Foreign Policy, Russia, Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, Vladimir Putin
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Thursday, February 20th, 2014
That happens sometimes, when you try to escape your country’s harsh political bondage, despite the clamps and chains Putin’s police state has forced on dissidents, reformers and lesbians…
(Hat tip: Moe Lane, who doesn’t seem to have realized the glorious keyword trolling possibilities…)
Tags:Communism, Pussy Riot, Russia, Sochi Olympics, video, Vladimir Putin
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Thursday, February 20th, 2014
So much for that truce:
Central Kyiv turned into a war zone on Feb. 20, with indiscriminate shooting, burning fires and the mass evacuations of government buildings.
At least 35 people were reported dead by noon, bringing the total count to at least 61 persons this week.
It became increasingly clear that both sides have lost control of the streets across Ukraine as reports of deaths, looting, and violent attacks poured in.
Foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland, walked into a meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych around noon with one message on the agenda: you have to stop the violence now, and the quickest way to do it is to resign.
Yanukovych’s snipers are now shooting people in the streets:
Death toll now over 50 in latest clashes. I’m sure it will go higher. (Hat tip: Instapundit.)
Livestream:
Tweets:
Tags:EuroMaidan, Military, Twitter, Ukriane, video, Viktor Yanukovych
Posted in Communism, Foreign Policy, Military, video | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 19th, 2014
A truce has been declared between Euromaiden and Yanukovych’s forces. This is good news, as it means there’s fierce probably internal resistance in the armed forces to carry out the traditional “slaughter everyone with reach of a machine gun” method of putting down dissent. It may also mean that Putin isn’t quite willing to cross the Rubicon by intervening militarily to prop up his puppet.
Also, Obama finally condemns the violence in Ukraine and threatens vague “consequences” if it gets worse. It’s a start.
I’ve done so much Ukraine reporting today that I think I’ll just put up this short blurb for tonight, unless all hell breaks lose again…
Tags:Communism, EuroMaidan, Foreign Policy, Obama, Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, Vladimir Putin
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Wednesday, February 19th, 2014
Current Ukraine status:
26 dead so far, including 10 riot police and journalist Vyacheslav Veremei.
Putin’s government gave Yanukovich’s another $2 billion payout.
Yanukovich demands people live the Maidan before any concessions. Protestors tell him to get stuffed.
On the diplomatic front:
Victor Davis Hanson via SooperMexican: Obama’s feckless foreign policy has emboldened Putin in the Ukraine.
A BBC report via Instapundit, in which various EU diplomatic grandees make meaningless noises of “concern.”
Though they’re at least considering sanctions.
And Secretary of State John Kerry? While Kiev burns, he’s lecturing the world on…global warming.
Some videos:
PC carrier tries unsuccessfully to breach Euromaidan lines in a hail of molotov cocktails:
Another view:
Scenes from the fighting:
An overview of the fighting:
More clashes:
Livestream again, though it looks like mostly video clips right now:
Tags:EuroMaidan, Foreign Policy, John Kerry, Livestream, Ukraine, video, Vladimir Putin, Vyacheslav Veremei
Posted in Communism, Foreign Policy, video | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 18th, 2014
Lots of reports coming out of Ukraine right now, little of them good. Current reports have 22 dead in clashes between riot police and Euromaidan protestors. More from the Kiev Post. And a border crossing station between Poland and Ukraine has been blocked by a barricade of burning tires.
Yanukovych is demanding the protestors disperse before any reforms. The protestors told him to get stuffed, and are still there despite the crackdown.
Here’s a livestream:
Here’s a video explaining the issue via Instapundit:
Here’s Euromaidan’s English-language blog.
Tags:Communism, EuroMaidan, Foreign Policy, Poland, Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych
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Tuesday, February 18th, 2014
I knew things in Venezuela were bad, thanks to the magic power of socialism, but now they’re poised to get a whole lot worse.
“Over the past week, Venezuelan protesters have been fighting against corruption in the government, high inflation, and a high murder rate.”
The unjust, corrupt and incompetent socialist government of Hugo Chavez protege Nicolas Maduro just raided the offices of the main opposition party
Also, they just expelled three U.S. diplomats.
Here’s the skinny in a video nutshell:
Torture, repression, censorship, media control; Chavez and Maduro certainly learned Fidel Castro’s old playbook.
Ditto the economy, where inflation tops 50% and good shortages are widespread thanks to the usual socialist mismanagement and currency controls. (In just one indicator, Toyota suspended production in Venezuela due to the hard currency shortage. But at least Toyota sold 722 cars in January, while Ford sold a grand total of…2.)
The situation in Venezuela can’t get better as long as the current socialist government is in power, but Maduro’s thugs won’t leave without a fight.
Tags:censorship, Communism, Economics, protests, socialism, Venezuela, video
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